Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure to be with you at this important gathering, which I believe will pave the way for new avenues of cooperation between Turkish and British companies in third countries.

To our Turkish participants, many of whom have traveled from Istanbul, thank you for bringing the energy and entrepreneurial spirit of our vibrant city to London.

Today, we are here to strengthen the dynamic connections between these two global cities, each a hub in its own right, one rooted in centuries of trade expertise, the other a capital of finance. This partnership is capable of building bridges not just between East and West, but across the world.

The numbers behind our trade and investment relationship are promising, yet we are resolute in taking them further. This requires the public and private sectors working in close cooperation.

We share common strengths: a bold entrepreneurial spirit and the ability to successfully operate in diverse geographies. These traits position us perfectly to collaborate in third regions like Central Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and the Balkans.

Turkish construction companies, with their world-renowned expertise in engineering, design, and large-scale project delivery, have strong muscles to build on.

At the same time, London stands as a global finance capital, offering resources in sustainability, renewables, and digital technologies. Together, these strengths allow us to create solutions, and our joint work with UKEF, EBRD, and private investment banks has already set a strong precedent.

Our work today builds on a solid foundation. Last year’s JETCO meeting and the MOU signed at that time have established a working group that continues to foster collaboration. We must seize this opportunity to push forward in areas like sustainability, renewable energy, digitalisation, and AI—sectors that are critical for future growth and innovation.

At the same time, we remain focused on upgrading our Free Trade Agreement, which will unlock even greater potential for cooperation.

Let me express my gratitude to the Turkish Contractors Association, the British Department for Business and Trade, British Embassy in Ankara and Consulate General in Istanbul, and the Turkish Ministry of Trade for their invaluable support in making this event possible.

Together, we are not only fostering trade and investment but also forging partnerships that will have a lasting impact on the regions where we operate.

Let us continue to build bridges—not only between our countries but also for the benefit of the wider world.

Thank you, and I wish you productive discussions and successful outcomes.

Thank you.